News Release

UNESCO calls for protection of mangrove ecosystems

Time：2016-07-29Browse Number：243Source：UN News Centre

26
July 2016 – Mangroves are rare and vital ecosystems that help to protect
coastlines and mitigate the effects of climate change, but their survival is
being jeopardized, the United Nations cultural agency said today, calling for
greater preservation efforts as the international community marks the first
ever International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.

“Mangroves are rare, spectacular and prolific
ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea. They ensure food security for
local communities. They provide biomass, forest products and sustain fisheries.
They contribute to the protection of coastlines. They help mitigate the effects
of climate change and extreme weather events,” said Irina Bokova,
Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) in a message to mark the Day.

“This is why the protection of mangrove
ecosystems is essential today. Their survival faces serious challenges – from
the alarming rise of the sea level and biodiversity that is increasingly
endangered. The earth and humanity simply cannot afford to lose these vital
ecosystems,” she added.

Mangroves
– ecosystems located on the interface of land and sea in tropical regions – can
play an important role in reducing vulnerability to natural hazards and
increasing resilience to climate change impacts, by acting as a form of natural
coastal defense. However, mangroves are disappearing three to five times faster
than overall global forest losses, with serious ecological and socio-economic
impacts, UNESCO said.

The
proclamation of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove
Ecosystem – which was adopted in November 2015 by the General Conference of
UNESCO – underlined the importance of the mangrove ecosystem as a “a unique,
special and vulnerable ecosystem, providing by virtue of their existence,
biomass and productivity substantial benefits to human beings, providing
forestry, fishery goods and services as well as contributing to the protection
of the coastline and being particularly relevant in terms of mitigation of the
effects of climate change and food security for local communities.”

UNESCO
noted that it has always been on the frontline of promoting new and harmonious
relations between humanity and nature, where the preservation of mangrove
ecosystems carries “special importance.” To this end, the agency is working
with partners on an open initiative on mangroves and sustainable development.

“On
this first International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem,
UNESCO's message is clear. Taking forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development means forging new sustainable pathways to development in harmony
with the earth. This means preserving all mangrove ecosystems,” said Ms.
Bokova.

UNESCO's
World Network of Biosphere Reserves has 86 sites out of 669 that include areas
of mangroves. Many are in developing countries and Small Island Developing
States – such as La Hotte Biosphere Reserve in Haiti and the island of Principe
in Sao Tome and Principe, as well as the Can Gio Mangrove in Vietnam.

In
addition, the UNESCO World Heritage List includes the Sundarbans, the largest
unbroken mangrove system in the world, shared between Bangladesh and India and
home to the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger.

The
UNESCO Global Geoparks Network also has mangrove sites, such as the Langkawi
Global Geopark of Malaysia.